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The decision to leave South Africa was not an easy one to take for Jaakkola.

Having moved to Cape Town from Kilmarnock in 2013, he went on to be nominated for the league’s keeper of the season award in two of the last three years.

And in 2014 he was named as his club’s player of the season, as well as players’ player of the season.

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But having weighed everything up, Jaakkola decided the time was right to return to Europe having heard of Reading's interest.

“It was a big move for me,” he said. “The last few years I’ve really enjoyed my time in South Africa - I lived in Cape Town which is a great city but it was the right time to come back to the UK.

“Football wise it was an easier decision because I wanted to come back to Europe and play at a higher level - but family wise it was a bit harder. I have two small kids, we had a lot of friends and it was a great city.

“So in that way it was difficult to leave all your friends behind but you need to think about your career. So the family will come back over here at some point soon.

“My wife is from Scotland so she is happy as well to come back to the UK.”